Samhain, November 1, is Gaelic for ‘summer’s end’ and designates the beginning of winter on the agricultural calendar. It is the exact midpoint between the Fall Equinox and the Winter Solstice. Historically and agriculturally this was the time of year when cattle and sheep were herded from their summer grazing places, secured in stalls for the winter, or slaughtered and salted for winter food. Folks harvested, preserved, and stored crops. These activities were followed by a great feast when tribes celebrated the end of the year.
Living amongst the foothills of East Tennessee, I listen to nature’s language as the trees turn colors of golden yellow, crimson red, burnt orange, and deep purple. As natures shifts, we shift. We take our cues from the natural world, and as she slows before the slumber of winter, we know to get our gardens ready, too.
The garden at rest. We'll be adding more gardens by using the sheet method technique as the leaves fall.
For years, I have followed an agricultural calendar in an attempt to live closer to the Earth cycles. I follow the moon cycles when I garden. I know that first frost in this area occurs around October 20th, and I plan accordingly. We had a light frost that weekend, but nothing that injured my plants. I knew that the first big frost would be upon us, so I kept a careful ear to the ground (aka the weather channels). Before the first heavy frost (October 29, 2011) , I harvested the remainder of my garden thanking the plants and saying a little good-bye. The next day after the frost, I clipped each plant at the base and laid them to rest in the garden assuring them that they would help nourish next year’s crops. I covered them in straw to add a layer of biomass. On All Hallow’s Eve, I prepared the harvest for winter storage. I didn’t have much because we moved, and we are in a rebuilding phase. The little food that remained suddenly seemed so precious as we try to eat as locally and seasonally as possible. I will not be able to savor these crops until next year.
One of the grape arbors in the back yard.
We also use this time of year to plant garlic and fruit bearing bushes & trees. We would have liked to have planted the fruit bushes earlier in the year (like last spring), but we had a little property dispute in that we didn’t know where the property line stood. The neighbor’s idea clashed terribly with our deed’s idea. We rented a metal detector and found the metal pins and marked them with stakes. Chad built four cedar arbors for grapes and raspberries and placed them a foot back from the line.
Row of blueberry bushes waiting to be planted on Friday, November 4th when the moon is in Pisces.
A few feet back from the arbors in the backyard, we placed the blueberry bushes in a line to create a natural and living border between our home and the house next door. We have room for up to eight fruit trees and are in the process of ordering them.
This is the time of year to add nutrients to your garden beds. As you rake your leaves, instead of putting them to the curb, pile them in your garden. Add manure and let it compost all winter. This is a simple and inexpensive way to build up your beds. Earthworms love it, and you won’t need to till, which destroys nutrients in the soil.
Lettuces, spinach, and Swiss chard all looking good. The garlic is planted between the spinach rows (not pictured).
Samhain is nature’s reminder to slow down. Let yourself feel it as you finish up garden tasks enjoying the crisp autumn air and soaking up the sun’s rays. By the time it’s all finished, you’ll be prepared to rest this winter.
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About Agrarian Urbanite
Hi! I'm Tracie L. Hellwinckel creator of The Agrarian Urbanites. My experiences in gardening education began 2000 as a Peace Corps volunteer . Since then, I've served as an AmeriCorps volunteer with Beardsley Community Farm and Habitat Urban Gardens. I've sold plants at the local farmer's markets, but I discovered that when customers asked me questions about gardening, it was the teaching techniques and sharing of information that inspired me. Gardening Education combines my formal education (Masters Degree from the University of Tennessee in Elementary Education) and my passion, which is growing food. I began writing the Agrarian Urbanites in June 2009 as a way to further share this information.
For workshops, lectures, or tours, I can be reached at agrarianurbanite@gmail.com
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Kudos! What a neat way of thiknnig about it.
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